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Timber moisture content adjustment factors for nondestructive testing (NDT): acoustic, vibration and probing techniques

  • Daniel F. Llana ORCID logo EMAIL logo , Guillermo Íñiguez-González ORCID logo , Miguel Esteban ORCID logo , Eva Hermoso and Francisco Arriaga ORCID logo
Published/Copyright: January 22, 2020
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Abstract

Nondestructive testing (NDT) includes several highly efficient techniques for the estimation of the physical and mechanical properties of structural timber. However, NDT results are affected by several factors [moisture content (MC), temperature, specimen dimensions, sensor positioning and grain angle, timber-sensor coupling, etc.], of which wood MC is the most important. Scientific research on MC influence in NDT measurements started in the 19th century, and 2018 was the first year that a MC adjustment for NDT measurements was published in a European standard (EN14081-2). Although MC influence on NDT has been studied for more than 170 years, MC adjustment factor research is important nowadays because it is widely used in the industry. Currently, NDT device manufacturers develop their own MC adjustment factors adapted to their equipment and species. This paper presents an exhaustive review of MC adjustments for different types of NDT equipment, as proposed by several authors from the 19th century to date, and a discussion of factors affecting MC adjustments.

Acknowledgments

Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad [Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness]. Secretaría de Estado de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación, Funder Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100007136, Project I+D: BIA 2010-18858.

  1. Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.

  2. Research funding: None declared.

  3. Employment or leadership: None declared.

  4. Honorarium: None declared.

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Received: 2019-07-18
Accepted: 2019-12-17
Published Online: 2020-01-22
Published in Print: 2020-09-25

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